Natural-gas fears: Another school false alarm

For the second time today, a Bay Area school has been evacuated for a natural-gas like smell, and for the second time no leak was found.

Officials said they were exercising an abundance of caution following last week's gas pipeline explosion and fire in San Bruno that killed at least four people.

At least 15 teachers on the second floor at San Francisco's Galileo High School reported a suspicious smell at around 1:30 p.m., about 30 minutes after a smoke detector went off requiring a separate evacuation.

Students headed to the football field, as Pacific Gas & Electric Co. crews arrived at the school with fire investigators to look for leaks.

Students returned to class after the all-clear was given by fire and utility officials at around 2 p.m. It was unclear what caused the smell, Pesek said.

Earlier in the day, a San Bruno elementary school near the site of the Sept. 9 pipeline explosion was evacuated because of a natural gas-like smell, but no leak was found, officials said.

PG&E crews and fire officials determined the elementary school smell came from heaters being turned on for the first time this school year at Portola Elementary School on Amador Avenue, less than a mile west of the neighborhood damaged in the inferno.

The heaters gave off a musty smell when they were fired up, but it didn't come from natural gas, fire Capt. Charlie Barringer said.

Parents who were dropping off their children for the day reported the smell to school staffers at about 8:35 a.m., district officials said.

PG&E was immediately contacted, and officials there advised Portola administrators to evacuate the 270 students at the school just in case, said district Administrative Assistant Cindy Emerson.

Buses shuttled children to Parkside Intermediate School on Niles Avenue.

Parents, many of whom raced from work after receiving an automated call from the district describing the situation, were picking up their children there.

"I was terrified when I saw the school's number on my phone," said parent Ala Alzgoul. "It turns out everything is OK, and I'm relieved."